SpaceX has fundamentally transformed what we thought was possible in space. We are already living in the future: reusable rockets, hundreds of satellite launches every month, and plans for settling the Moon and Mars that no longer seem far-fetched.
Ready to peek at the exciting future ahead? Here are five modern books on the space revolution and where it might take us.
Ashlee Vance is the renowned author of the Elon Musk biography, which I thoroughly enjoyed. While Musk attracts most of the fame and media attention, dozens of other companies are making significant progress in the industry, including Planet Labs, Astra, and Rocket Lab. I highly recommend this book for its current insights into the industry and the people building it.
Case For Mars by Robert Zubrin
Robert Zubrin, author of "The Case for Mars", is the visionary who shaped Musk's pursuit of Mars. Zubrin's vision for space is both bold and unique. I appreciate how this book dives straight into what matters most: economics. If we are serious about space, we must exponentially increase the number of rocket launches. This underscores the importance of making rockets more affordable—much, much more affordable. We need reusable rockets, thousands of launches per day, and healthy competition to truly build a space economy.
A City on Mars: Can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through? by Weinersmith, Kelly, Weinersmith, Zach
A more sobering yet humorous take on our chances of ever setting foot on the red planet. This book shares the same vibe as the authors' previous best-seller, "Soonish": sharp wit combined with deep expertise. I learned a great deal from it.
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
I know, I know—you're tired of hearing about him. But Musk is unavoidable when discussing the modern space industry. Walter Isaacson, the renowned biographer, wrote this latest account. What makes this book valuable is its behind-the-curtain access, revealing details about recent events such as the first (semi-successful) Starship launch and the Twitter/X acquisition.
This book tells the dramatic story of SpaceX's early days. A thrilling read I couldn't put down. It captures the tension, excitement, and uncertainty of those years when SpaceX was struggling to prove itself. If you want to understand how SpaceX grew from a scrappy startup into a major player in the space industry, this is a must-read.